Orlando OKs Baldwin Park apartment complex

A $58 million apartment complex can be built near the shore of a small lake in the upscale Baldwin Park development, despite the complaints of some residents, the Orlando City Council decided Monday.

People who would live near the 13 buildings with 410 units complained that the complex would degrade the neighborhood because it was not aesthetically pleasing and could create too much traffic and overrun a crowded elementary school with new students.

"Politics as usual," grumbled Charles Clayton, who owns a $3 million house that would be near the complex to be built by Post Properties of Atlanta.

Clayton could appeal the 5-1 council decision in court but said he is not sure what he would do. Commissioner Phil Diamond voted no, with Commissioner Sam Ings absent.

Plans for the project originally were approved in 2008, but construction stalled because of the economy. Since then, Post made a variety of changes to the proposal, including adjusting the size of the units, eliminating covered parking and making architectural changes.

Last year, Post officials returned to the city, saying they were ready to start building again. That led to a series of meetings with planning commissions and officials. The project was approved by the city at each step, but nearby residents fought it.

They eventually appealed to the City Council, which heard the case Monday.

One of the residents' big criticisms is that there could end up being more renters in the community built on what used to be the old Naval Training Center, which was closed during federal budget cuts in 1993.

The original developers promised that at least 60 percent of the units would be owned by the occupants. Construction on the 1,100-acre community began in the late 1990s and now is home to 8,000 residents.

It is unclear what the percent of home ownership is now, though city officials contend it remains more than 60 percent.

But city planner Paul Lewis argued that provision was unenforceable by the city because it was a private agreement, not a public one. He called it a "general misunderstanding."

The apartments will sit on more than 13 acres around Lake Susannah on the south end of Baldwin Park. It originally was designed for townhomes and multi-unit dwellings, city officials said.

Plans call for apartment buildings of up to four stories between the lake and Lake Baldwin Lane, and another two apartment buildings next to the site on Common Way Road.

Mayor Buddy Dyer led the vote for the complex, saying he feared the developers would have a good chance of overturning the city if the vote went against them and a court battle followed.

He called Baldwin Park "a premiere project around the entire country."

Commissioner Daisy Lynum said she liked the idea of interspersing apartments with nice homes because it provided a nice mix of incomes.

"I embrace it because it is a beautiful place," Lynum said.

Construction could start as soon as the city issues the final permits, Post Properties attorney Rebecca Wilson said.